Barber Shop fixture in village

Thursday

Dec 6, 2012 at 9:15 AMDec 7, 2012 at 8:42 AM

By Andy Barrand

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net QUINCY — Over the past 100 years, styles have changed.Barbers have come and gone, but one thing has remained the same — there has always been a barber shop on the corner of Main and Chicago streets in downtown Quincy. The tiny shop with two chairs is not only a place to get a trim, it is a place where one can learn about the happenings around the village. On any given day throughout the week, residents of the village can be found sitting in the chairs along the wall, sharing stories with one another while waiting for haircuts. As long as the red, white and blue barber pole is turning, the shop is open for business. The shop is currently operated by Sandy Speith, who took over the shop a year ago after the passing of Hugh Elliott in September. Speith works alongside Ken Stempien, who began working with Elliott on Sept. 13, 2004. Stempien has been cutting hair in Branch County for the past 51 years. The avid outdoorsman and hobbyist works part-time on Mondays and Tuesdays. Stempien’s father, who was also a barber, owned the shop from1944-45. Speith said the barber shop has been an answer to her prayers and a gift from above. Speith barbered for over 20 years at the Hair Center in Angola, Ind., before taking a break to homeschool her daughter and son. The downturn in the economy, however, had Speith looking for a part-time job when she learned about Elliott’s passing. She recalled that day when she learned about the shop after stopping in at Jamie’s Barber Shop in Hillsdale. Jamie, Hugh’s brother-in-law, told Speith to stop by the shop and talk with Stempien because the shop was going to close. “The shop was packed that day,” Speith said. “Ken told me if I wanted to run the shop he would continue to work.” After working out a deal with the owner of the building, Speith received a call from Hugh’s wife Rhonda three days after her visit to the shop. “She called and said I could use any of his equipment I needed,” Speith said. She purchased the equipment and continues to use it today.Being a woman, Speith said she didn’t know how she would be received entering the "man cave" at the shop. “Everyone has been great though,” she said. “The guys just wanted to come to the shop they were used to.” Speith, who doesn’t come from a line of barbers, said even as a child she wanted to be a barber. She remembers sneaking into the basement as a kidwith a friend whose mother was a beautician to listen to the conversations of the ladies getting their hair cut. After graduating from Angola High School, Speith continued her education at Indiana Barber Stylist College in Indianapolis. “Having four brothers, cutting men's hair was not intimidating at all,” she said. After acquiring the building, Speith looked to preserve the history of the shop, and worked with the Quincy Downtown Business Association to have a historical mural painted on the side of the shop. The black and white painting, a reproduction of a historical picture she found at the Quincy Public Library, was painted by artist Thor Goodlife Alwood of Allen. Speith said has received several compliments about the piece since it was completed. “Everyone loves it,” she said. Speith considers herself an extreme extrovert, something that makes her ideal for her job. “I have a gift of gab and a genuine love for people — it makes my job a pleasure,” she said. “I love it.” Although she takes some razzing from the guys, Speith said she can give it as good as she gets it. She said she has learned a lot about the history of the village over the past year. The shop caters to walk-in customers, something that was new to Speith who had always worked at a shops that took appointments. The biggest change has been not knowing how busy she will be on any given day, Speith said. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.